Valve for automatic water-heaters.



No. 699,798. Patented May l3, I902.

J. L. GRAHAM.

VALVE FOR AUTOMATIC'WATER HEATERS.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1801. (No Model.) :2 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 699,798. ,Patented May I3, I902.

J. L. GRAHAM.

VALVE FDR AUTOMATIC WATER HEATERS.

Application filed D904 21. 1901.)

(No Model. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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to the water-supply pipe, as shown.

Unwrap STATES ATENT Orrica.

JAMES L. GRAHAM, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE FOR AUTOMATIC WATER-HEATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,798, dated May 13, 1902.

Application filed December 21, 1901. Serial No, 86,775. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JAMES L. GRAHAM, a resident of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Valves for Automatic Water-Heaters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to automatic waterheaters, and more especially to the valve for controlling the flow of gas to the burners of the heater.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide a valve for this purpose which is adjustable to adapt it to different water pressures and which is constructed to be closed by the pressure of gas alone, so that it will automatically cut ofi the flow of gasto the burners when the water is not'running or is entirely out off.

A further object of myinvention is to construct a valve for this purpose having diaphragms for receiving the water-pressure, so that said diaphragms cannot easily wear out or burst.

Afnrther object of myinvention is to provide regulating cocks or valves in the waterpipe, so that the amount of gas flowing to the burners can be accurately adjusted to correspond to the amount of Water to be heated and so that when the latter is increased the gas will be automatically increased in proportion thereto.

A further object of my invention is to improve a valve of this character in details of construction, as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through my valve, showing the same full size. Fig. 2 is a side view of the valve with the. pipe connections, showing the same half size; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a modification.

The water-supply pipe is shown at 1, the gas-supply pipe at 2, and the gas-regulating valve at 3. This valve comprises a suitable casing or body 4, having heads 5 and 6 and inclosing the chamber 7. Through the heads 5 and 6 suitable connections 8 and 9 are made In the chamber 7, adjacent to each of the heads, are the diaphragms 10 and 11, which receive the water-pressure through the connections 8 and 9, respectively.

In lieu of these diaphragms any other movable parts, such as pistons 10 and 11 (shown in Fig. 3,) might be employed; but the diaphragms are much cheaper to construct and more easily applied so as to prevent leakage. I therefore prefer to use diaphragms. When pistons are used, they will be provided with stems 30, which are guided in yokes 31 in theheads 5 and 6 in order to keep the pistons from binding.

The chamber 7 is divided by the Web 12, through which is the gas-passage 13, and on the upper face of said ledge is formed a seat 14 for the gas-valve 15. The gas-supply pipe 2 communicates with the chamber 7 below the valve-seat 14., while connected to the chamber above said seat is the gas-pipe 16, which leads to the main burners of the water-heater. A small pipe 17 leads from the chamber below the valve-seat to the pilot-burner.

The gas-valve 15 comprises a disk 18, having secured thereto the leather or other soft disk 19, which is adapted to rest upon the seat 14:. Formed integral with the disk 18 or suitably secured thereto and projecting in opposite directions are the stems 20 and 21, to the outer ends of which are suitably secured the disks or pistons 22 and 23, which are substantially the same size as the chamber 7 and work fairly closely therein. These pistons or disks are in such proximity to the diaphragms 10 and 11 that the Water-pressure on the diaphragms will carry the latter against 8 5 these disks or pistons to move the valve, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The piston 23 has a greater area than the gas port or passage 13, so that the gas in the lower part of the chamber7 will exert a greater 9o pressure downward on the disk 23 than upward-on the valve 15. Consequently when the water-pressures on the two diaphragms 10 and 11 are balanced the pressure of the gas in the chamber 7 on what may be termed 5 a differential piston 15 and 23 will hold the valve 15 to its seat, thus shutting off the gas from the main burners of the heater.

In order to adjust the valve to different water-pressures, the pistons 22 and 23 are seioo cured to the stems 20 and 21, so that they can be adjusted up and down. Any suitable adjusting means for this purpose may be employed; but I prefer to thread the stems 20 and 21, as shown, and have them project into threaded sleeves on the pistons, so that by turning the latter on the stems they will be adjusted either up or down, as desired. Screws are passed through openings in the heads of the pistons 22 and 23 and work in threaded axial openings in the stems 20 and 21. These screws are tightened after the pistons have been adjusted to the desired position and lock the pistons in position.

In the water-supply pipe, in advance of the water connection 9, is a supply-regulating valve or cock 26, that shown in the drawings being an ordinary plumbers waste-cock, although any other form of valve might be used. Also in said water-supply pipe, between the connections 8 and 9, is a regulating-valve 27, that shown being an ordinary globe-valve, although a valve of any other type ora mere two-way or Waste cock might be used. Beyond the connection 8 the water-pipe leads at 28' to the coil in the heater.

The operation of the valve is as follows:

' The valve having been ,properlyadjusted, as

- to flow in the -water-pipe, by reason of this restriction by the valve 37, the water will be drawn more quickly from above the diaphragm 10 than from below the diaphragm 11, thus unbalancing the'pressures on the two diaphragms, the greater pressure below act ing through the diaphragm 11 on the piston 23 and raising the valve 15 from its seat,thus permitting gas to flow to the main burners of the heater. The degree to which the valve 15 opens will depend upon the rapidity with which the water is flowing from the hot-water spigot, as this determines the difference in the pressures on the top and bottom diaphragms. When the hot-water spigot is closed, the reaction of the water will be felt first above the diaphragm 10, thus-closing the valve.

In order to adjust the valve to different water-pressures, the pistons 22 and 23 are adjusted on the stems 20and 21. In case the water-pressure is low the piston 23 should normally lie fairly close to the diaphragm 11, and generally the piston 22 is adjusted so that it is low down in the valve-chamber. With higher water-pressures, however, the

piston 23, and generally also the piston 22, is elevated, since the water-pressure will act more quickly and strongly on said pistons.

" When the apparatus is installed, the gas will be turned on full, and the water will like- A portion of the gas, however,

wise be turned on full and the hot-water spigot opened. Then the cock or valve 26 will be adjusted until the desired flow of water is obtained. It will be found that in that case little or no gas will flow to the burners. This is due to-the fact that the pressure on the pistons 10 and 11 is balanced, and the gas acting on the differential piston 15 23 Will keep the gas-valve 15 seated. The valve 27 is then adjusted, thus restricting the flow of Water between the connections 8 and 9, unbalancing the pressure on the diaphragms 10 and 11. The greater pressure on the diaphragm 11 will act on the piston 23 and open the valve 15, and this opening is such that it regulates the amount of gas accurately to the quantity of water being heated. Should the user at any time wish to increase the amount of hot water being heated per minute, he will merely open the valve or cook 26 wider, so as to give the increased flow of Water. As soon as'this is done the pressure below the diaphragm 11 will correspondingly increase by reason of the restriction of the Water-pipe by the valve 27 As a consequence the valve 15 will tend to open farther than it did formerly, thus permitting more gas to flow to the burn;- ers, and this increase when the parts are properly adjusted will correspond to the increase of water. In this manner any desired quantity of water can be heated per minute without necessitating an adjustment of the gas-regulating valve.

The pistons 22 and 23 are substantially the same diameter as the chamber 7, so that they form a broad support for the diaphragms 10 and 11 and prevent the same from bursting, cutting, or wearing at the points where they bend over the corners of the casting. It has been found that by the use of these broad abutmen'ts or pistons the life of the diaphragm is greatly increased. Furthermore, the means for adjusting these pistons issueh that it does not destroy the smooth surface which is presented to the diaphragm, thus preventing the latter from becoming cut or Worn.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letter Patent, is

1. In an automatic water-heater, the combination with a water-supply pipe and gassupply pipe, of a valve comprising a casing having a'chamber thereima diaphragm-in said chamber near each end thereof, connections from the water-supply pipe to both ends of the valve chamber outside. said diaphragms, a valve for controlling the passage of the gas to the heater, and disks connected to said valve and working in said chamber adjacent to the diaphragms, whereby said diaphragms will transmit motion to said valve.

2. In an automatic water-heater, the combination'with awater-supply pipe, of a valve comprising a casing having a chamber there- IIO in connected to the gas-supply pipe, a valve= seat in said chamber, a disk valve cooperating with said seat and openingtoward" the heater, a piston of greater area than the valve connected thereto on the side toward the gasinlet, connections from the water-supply pipe to both ends of the valve-chamber, movable means in said chamber near each end thereof for receiving the water-pressure, and connec-' tions between said movable means and the gas-valve for transmitting the motion of the former to the latter.

3. In an automatic water-heater, the combination with a water-supply pipe and gassupply pipe, of a valve comprising a casing having a chamber therein connected to the gas-supply pipe, a diaphragm in said chamber' near each end thereof, connections from the water-supply pipe to both ends of the valve -chamber outside said diaphragms, a valve-seat in said chamber, a disk valve cooperating with said seat and opening toward the heater, and projections on said valve and having their ends lying adjacent to the diaphragms, whereby said diaphragms will transmit motion to said valve, one of said projections carrying a piston of greater area than the gas-valve, whereby when the pressure on the diaphragms is balanced the pressure of the gas will keep the valve seated.

4. In an automatic water-heater, the combination with a water-supplypipe and gas supply pipe, of a valve comprising a casing havinga chamber therein, a valve controlling the passage of gas to the heater, connections from the water-supply pipe to both ends of the valve-chamber, movable means in said chamber near each end thereof for receiving the water-pressure, and adjustable connections between said movable means and the valve, whereby said movable means will transmit motion tosaid valve.

5. In an automatic water-heater, the combination with a water-supply pipe and gassupply'pipe,of a valve comprising a casing having a chamber therein, movable means in said chamber near each end thereof, connec-' tions from the water-supply pipe to both ends of the valve-chamber outside said movable means, a valve for controlling the passage of the gas to the heater, stems on said valve, and heads adjustably secured to said stems and lying adjacent to diaphragms, whereby said diaphragms will transmit motion to said valve.

6. In an automatic water-heater, the combination with a water-supply pipe and gassupply pipe, of a valve comprising a casing having a chamber therein, a diaphragm'in said chamber near each end thereof, connec-' tions from the water-supply pipe to both ends of the valve chamber outside said diaphragms, a valve for controlling the passage of the gas to the heater, disks working in said chamber adjacent to the diaphragms, and adj ustable connections between said disks and the valve, whereby said diaphragms will transmit motion to the valve.

7. In an automatic water-heater, the combination with a water-supply pipe and gassupply pipe, of a valve comprising a casing having a chamber thereinconnected to the gas-supply pipe, a valve-seat in said chamber, a disk valve cooperating with said seat and opening toward the heater, pistons working in said chamber and connected to thevalve, one of said pistons being of greater area than the gas-valve, and connections from the wator-supply pipe to both ends of the valvechamber outside ofthe pistons.

8. In an automatic water-heater, the combination with a water-supply pipe and gassupply pipe, of a valve comprising a casing having a chamber thereinconnected to the gas-supply pipe, a diaphragm in said chamber near each end thereof, connections from the water-supply pipe to'both ends of the valve chamber outside said diaphragms, a valve-seat in said chamber, a'disk valve 00- operating with said seat and opening toward .the heater,'pistons working in said chamber adjacent to the diaphragms, and connections between said pistons and the valve, one of said pistons being of greater area than the gas- .valve, whereby said diaphragms will trans- 'mit motion to said valve.

9. In an automatic water-heater, the combination with a water-supply pipe and gassupply pipe, of a valve comprising a casing having a chamber therein, a diaphragmin disks into openings in the ends of the stems. 10. In an automatic water-heater, thecom bination with a Water-supply pipe and gassupply pipe, of a valve comprising acasing having a passage therethrough for the gas, a valve for controlling said passage, connections from the water-supply pipe to opposite sides of the valve for transmitting motion to :said valve, a pressure-regulating valve in the water-supply pipe between the connections leading to the valve,'a'nd a supply-regulating valve in the water-supply pipe in advance of the connections leading to the valve.

11. In an automatic water'heater, the combinationwith a water-supply pipe and gassupply pipe, of a valve comprising a casing having a chamber therein connected to the gas-supply pipe, a valVe-seatin said chamber, a disk valve cooperating with said seat and opening toward the heater, pistons connected to said valve and working in said chamber, one of saidpistons being of greater area than the gas-valve, connections from the watersupply pipe to each end of the chamber out side said pistons, a pressure-regulating Valve in the water-supply pipe between the connections leadingto the valve-chamber, and a supphragms Will transmit motion to said valve, a pressure-regulating valve in the water-supply pipe between the connections leading to the valve-chamber, and a, supply-regulating valve in said water-supplypipe in advance of said connections.

In testimony whereof I, the said JAMES L. 20 GRAHAM, have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES L. GRAHAM.

Witnesses:

F. W. WINTER, ROBERT (J. TOTTEN. 

